Larry J. Sabato, the University of Virginia’s Center for Politics director, tells Newsmax that the Obama administration’s strategic decision to place the Democratic National Convention in North Carolina could keep the swing state from falling back in GOP hands in November 2012.

“I think North Carolina is likely to end up red,” he said in an exclusive Newsmax.TV interview. “The two states that Obama carried in 2008 that he’s most likely to lose are first of all, Indiana. I think that one’s gone regardless of what happens. And North Carolina, I think probably Obama loses.

“The only hesitation is, they have the convention there,” he hastens to add.
“They picked North Carolina on purpose -- convention in Charlotte on Labor Day. And because of that, I think the Democrats will be able to get a major organizational effort moving in North Carolina. But it’s still an uphill climb for them,” he said.

The political expert also added: “Barack Obama is very lucky the election isn’t this November. He would lose badly if it were this November.”

Larry J. Sabato, the University of Virginia s Center for Politics director, tells Newsmax that the Obama administration s strategic decision to place the Democratic National Convention in North Carolina could keep the swing state from falling back in GOP hands in November...